| Triasacarus Temporal range: Late Triassic
| |
|---|---|
Scientific classification 
| |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Subphylum: | Chelicerata |
| Class: | Arachnida |
| Genus: | †Triasacarus |
| Species: | †T. fedelei
|
| Binomial name | |
| †Triasacarus fedelei Schmidt et al., 2012
| |
Triasacarus fedelei is an extinct species of gall mite described from the Carnian of northeastern Italy. It lived as a parasite of Cheirolepidiaceae trees. The only known specimen, preserved in amber, is 0.210 mm long.[1] Along with Ampezzoa triassica and an unnamed dipteran, it is the oldest arthropod found enclosed in amber.[2]
It is possible that Triasacarus induced the formation of galls on the host plant.[1]
References[edit]
- ^ a b Schmidt, A. R.; Jancke, S.; Lindquist, E. E.; Ragazzi, E.; Roghi, G.; Nascimbene, P. C.; Schmidt, K.; Wappler, T.; Grimaldi, D. A. (2012). "Arthropods in amber from the Triassic Period". Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. 109 (37): 14796–15501. doi:10.1073/pnas.1208464109. PMC 3443139. PMID 22927387.
- ^ "Oldest Occurrence of Arthropods Preserved in Amber: Fly, Mite Specimens Are 100 Million Years Older Than Previous Amber Inclusions". ScienceDaily. Retrieved 22 May 2013.